On Fri, 6 Oct 2006 22:17:54 -0500, "Lady Pilot" wrote:

"Roland Herwig, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration in
Oklahoma City, said a preliminary inquiry found that the plane spun around
briefly upon landing.

"Finnerty said Inhofe thinks there may have been a problem with the plane's
rudder.

"The plane is old-fashioned, with two wheels in the front and one in the
back, Finnerty said."

Any clues?

Could be human error, could be mechanical error. The Senator wouldn't be the
first pilot to lose control while landing a taildragger.

As for potential mechanical causes, could be a jammed brake, could be a problem
with the tailwheel itself. We had a Maule at a local airport lose one of the
links that connected the tailwheel to the rudder, a month or two back.
Depending on how the tailwheel control is set up, this could cause the tailwheel
to turn sharply.

Ron Wanttaja